My professional experience:

I have worked as a psychologist and therapist for over 10 years, since qualifying in Australia. I have worked for the NHS, private sector, forensic settings and in educational settings.

I first qualified as a psychologist in Victoria, Australia, initially working in a forensic setting within the private sectors while I completed my training. The primary focus was a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approach, as well as Psychodynamic and Gestalt. I facilitated groups and individual therapy, working with depression and anxiety, offending behaviour and addictions. This included psychometric testing and writing of psychological reports.

I went on to work in addictions in residential program for adolescents and as an educational psychologist in the Victoria education system for a group of primary schools. This included psychometric testing and writing of psychological reports, for specialist funding and special needs teaching access.

I have worked for the NHS since coming to the UK 8 years ago, in a community psychiatric setting. During this period, I completed a Gradate Diploma in working mainly with depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, psychosis, bi-polar disorder and Personality Disorder. I have a special interest in exposure work, as well as personality disorder and early intervention with severe and enduring mental illness.

My personal statement:

My clinical approach is based on a evidence based models. I primarily work from a Cognitive Behavioural approach, though I have worked from Schema Therapy frameworks as well and like to incorporate Mindfulness and Acceptance Commitment Therapy into my work, as I recognise that flexibility in therapeutic styles can benefit patients.

I particularly enjoy group work and also exposure work, and like to be creative in developing group activities and tasks. I have a special interest in working with Personality Disorder presentations and severe and enduring illness, and find the work rewarding. As well, I feel that family intervention and psycho-education can be an important part of recovery, and would discuss and encourage family intervention work where appropriate.